Since the conflict started in Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been mobilizing teams and boosting capacity in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of Ukrainians forced to flee the country, those internally displaced, and stranded third-country nationals. The Registration project aims to assist incoming Ukrainian refugees in 5 different locations across Ireland by providing Temporary Protection Directive letters and other necessary needs. The Transfer project was put in place following the Registration project and its main goal is to provide transitional accommodation to Ukrainian refuges, moving people from emergency accommodation into pledged accommodation.  

 

1.) Registration Project  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is mobilizing teams and boosting capacity in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of Ukrainians forced to flee the country, those internally displaced, and stranded third-country nationals. This page compiles the latest news and resources related to IOM Ireland’s response in Ukraine and the region, as well as IOM hotlines to support persons affected by the war in Ukraine and in different countries.  

The Organization’s number one priority is the safety and protection of all those fleeing the country – including third country nationals – and their ability to access assistance. It will also be crucial to screen for and assess potential short-term and longer-term vulnerabilities, including for human trafficking, child protection, health and mental health, and the arrival of more vulnerable people with special needs, including elderly, wounded or sick people. 

In Ireland there 5 locations where Ukrainian nationals are taken in: Dublin Airport Arrival Assistance, Dublin Citywest Reception Facility, Rosslare Europort from boats arriving from France (operation suspended on 9th June, due to the few arrivals of Ukrainian nationals and TCNs at Rosslare). No free tickets available any longer for Ukrainian nationals at the moment.), Limerick Intreo Office & Shannon Airport, Cork Intreo Office. 

At these Ukraine Response reception facilities IOM will assist in completing social security forms with beneficiaries, helping the Department of Justice in issuing EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) Letters, and provide additional assistance and support to the HSE and TUSLA through interpretation, mediation and referrals.   

 

Registration Project locations in Ireland 

 

Dublin Airport Arrival Assistance 

IOM Ireland has 8 staff assisting in arrivals from Ukraine. IOM staff are present from 8am to 3am for arrivals, and will assist in translation, data collection, immediate response to sensitive cases and guidance to transport. IOM Staff are also to obtain airside access to coordinate full arrival assistance from flight gate to transport. The transfer to CityWest will then take around 40 minutes. Upon arrival at Citywest Reception Facility, all beneficiaries will be able to apply for TPD, accommodation, social welfare and any additional health needs, veterinary requirements, child protection issues or further assistance.   

Dublin Citywest Reception Facility 

The Citywest Reception Facility in Dublin is open for arrivals from 8am to 8pm daily.  Staff from IOM Ireland then assist the DOJ and DSP in the following tasks: providing immediate assistance to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Dublin, in completion of PPSN (Social Welfare) forms so as Ukrainian Refugees can access social welfare, providing technical assistance in registration and processing of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), assisting provided to TUSLA (child protection services) in cases of unaccompanied minors and the HSE (health service executive) in medical cases, identification of indicators of possible Trafficking of Human Beings (THB) and exploitation during assistance to Ukrainian nationals/TCNs, providing support, advice and referral to IOM Ireland programmes, and providing assistance on appropriate referrals to NGOs and Civil Society when required, to ensure a continuum of support for Ukrainian Refugees who arrive to Ireland. 

 

Limerick Reception Facility 

In Limerick, the IOM Ireland staff assist in the collection of documents (Passports, Internal Passports or IDs, visas, birth certificates, marriage certificates) brought by Ukrainian Nationals/TCNs. Documentation provided to the DOJ for their review, evaluation, and photocopies.), interview Ukrainian nationals/TCNs for the collection of personal data and histories, related mainly to their place of residences, journey, routes, personal history, vulnerabilities, etc. for DoJ’s evaluation and records, info provision on TPD to Ukrainians citizens/TCNs on Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 04.03.22, support to Shannon Airport during the arrivals from Poland and Hungary and during emergency flights, Cooperation with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Staff in Limerick for procedures related to the issuance of the PPSN numbers of Ukrainian nationals/TCNs holders of TP letters and support the DOJ in the referral to the Irish Police of cases of abuses/exploitation reported by TP applicants. 

 

Rosslare Europort Reception Facility   

IOM Staff are assisting and supporting Department of Justice and Department of Social Protection with the arrival of Ukrainian nationals and those fleeing Ukraine in Rosslare Europort for those arriving by boat from France (on foot and by transport). They also assist in interpretation, organisation and completion of PPSN (Social Security) forms as well as assisting the DOJ with interpretation, technical assistance and queries when completing TPD. 

 

Cork Intreo Office Recption Facility   

IOM Ireland assisted in the opening of the Ukraine Office on the 6th of June 2022. IOM are assisting and supporting Department of Justice and Department of Social Protection with the arrival of Ukrainian nationals and those fleeing Ukraine in Cork ports of entry and including those who may be in Cork County or the South and South-West of Ireland. The staff also assisted in interviewing beneficiaries and providing remote assistance in collection of documentation and evidence to send to DOJ who will remotely approve or refuse TPD letters as well as assisting in interpretation, organisation and completion of PPSN (Social Security) forms. 

The Ukraine Support Centre in Cork is the newest location where IOM staff members have been deployed for the purposes of the Registration Project, yet it has been pivotal to DOJ’s case and data management as well as continuous support to Ukrainian nationals and third country nationals (TCNs) fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking temporary protection in Ireland.   

 

Starting with the two-day on-demand deployment in April and to this date, the team has been supporting the Department of Justice with registering temporary protection beneficiaries and managing their records. Over the past 6 months, the scope of the Registration Project has significantly expanded, and IOM Ireland continues to look for new possibilities to support people fleeing the war in Ukraine.   

 

 

 

 

 

2 - Transfer Project  

This project supports the transfer of Ukrainian and TCNs from emergency accommodation into pledged accommodation which has been offered by the Irish public. This includes both vacant properties (unoccupied) and shared accommodation (shared with Irish residents). The project is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), and it is implemented in close coordination with Local Authorities and the Irish Red Cross.  IOM coordinates with Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) in all locations for any cases or beneficiaries requiring medical assistance.   

 

The Department provided a grant for six months under certain terms and conditions set out in a Grant Agreement for the implementation of transferring Ukrainian nationals and TCNs from their current short-term accommodation to longer term accommodations and supporting them with short term integration needs in the Irish communities. 

 

The project began operations in April with a pilot in Limerick. The team then expanded into Citywest and subsequently started undertaking transfers in Cork, Galway, Louth, Cavan, Sligo and Meath as well as ad hoc referrals from across the country. IOM teams undertake vulnerability and needs assessments on individuals and families residing in emergency accommodation, mainly emergency rest centres, student accommodation sites and hotels. They then undertake a detailed matching process between pledgers and beneficiaries and arrange the transportation logistics once a successful match has been made.     

IOM receives from the DCEDIY lists of pledged properties on a regular basis. Additional lists may be occasionally shared by other parties, as well as ad hoc referrals through e-mails. Prior to matching any property with a household, the property is screened and assessed by IOM staff. Occasionally, the screening and assessment may be completed by City and County Councils or by the Irish Red Cross, but nonetheless IOM staff get in contact directly with the pledger prior to any matching.  

Beneficiaries eligible to receive support through the project are identified for screening through on-site visits or referrals made directly by DCEDIY or other partners. Importantly, IOM also arranges and covers the costs for the transportation of the beneficiaries and their belongings once a match has been made between a household and a pledged accommodation. 

 

PROJECT SITES 

So far, we have been working in city west regularly and we have been working for short times in Ballyogan reception centre, Trinity Hall, University Collages Dublin, in cork for different emergency accommodation, in Galway; Glasan Student accommodation, Hubble Student Accommodation, NUIG student accommodation Dunaras Village student accommodation and in Limerick for different accommodation. We have also been working with many other counties as well for accommodating Ukrainians. 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS 

As of Sep. 30, 2022, the Transfer Project has activated 477 pledges, transferred 944 individuals from emergency accommodation settings into pledged accommodation and we are operating in 11 councils: Louth, Cavan, Cork City, Cork County, Meath, Dublin South, Dublin City, Limerick, Galway City, Galway County and Sligo.  This number of Ukrainians are already in the society and integrating through learning English and finding their way to the job market which mean they will be productive and their potential with be used in the right direction or otherwise will be relied on the government support.